‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’ Final Trailer: The Middle-Earth Saga Goes Out With a War

The final 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' trailer has arrived and, well, it looks like another 'Hobbit' movie. If your faith in director Peter Jackson's vision of Middle-Earth remains unshaken, prepare to get excited. If the previous two films have muted your excitement for the series, prepare to see...more of the same.

None of the 'Hobbit' films have shifted the cultural landscape like the original 'Lord of the Rings' films. That original trilogy remains beloved, but fans speak of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' in hushed, sad whispers. Sure, 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' was a huge improvement, but even the most ardent fans seem to think that Jackson made a huge mistake out of splitting J.R.R. Tolkien's first book into a trilogy.

The impending arrival of the third and final film brings with it many questions. Can this one match the box office of the first four films, or will it suffer a huge drop like 'Desolation of Smaug'? Can an epic climax make up for the overlong clumsiness of the previous films? Most importantly, can this film remind everyone why we loved Jackson's Middle-Earth films in the first place? Even with returning cast members like Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom (along with great newcomers like Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage), these films have never felt quite like they're part of the same world first seen in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.'

Here's the official synopsis for the film:

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.

Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain.

As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' will storm into theaters on December 17.